davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

Many an eastern town would lose itself
in a western town of third its size and
wealth. The cause of this difference in
the progressiveness of these towns is in
the character of the citizens who inhabit
them. There is nothing to be admired in
the strict, mathematical, penny in change,
no chance to lose, policy of the eastern
economist. This parsimony is partly in
herited from their ancestry, and partly
forced on them. by the close competition
with which they are compelled to strug-
gle in that over crowded country, and
when one of them comes out into the
great. generous west he soon gets used to
its ways, and finds that he must either
keep up with the rush or else be run over
and left behind in the original state Of
mediocrity from which he just immerged.
The western man is not afraid to run
the risk of losing something. He can not
tolerate the narrow, contemptuous exact
frugality of the New Highlander, and the
distinction can even be seen in the half
dollar which he drops into the blind
mans lat.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02
THE RA1NBE1T.

We remember few years ago resi-
dent of Wichita assured us that the rain
belt would be moved westward. 1t was
located then 60 or IS miles east of Dodge
City. The portion Of country lying then
within the rainbelt was less subject to the
vagaries of the Kansas climate, notwith-
standing the drouthy periods prevailed at
times in different parts of the region de-
scribed within the boundaries of the
promised land. We are led to remind
ourselves that the prediction, that the
rainbelt would shift itself westward. is
literally true. The rainbelt is shifting
itself westward, keeping in march with
the progress of the immigration boom.
The daily line of white covered wagons,
and the loaded railroad trains give ample
assurances that the rainbelt is in the sim.
pie and unvarying process of shifting
itself to conform with the conditions and
needs of the sturdy immigrant and hon
est yeoman seeking the buffalo grass
plains and sage bush valleys of Colorado.
The rainbelt 30 longer an imaginary
line of the bounds of the home of the
granger. The so-called rainbelt now de-
scribes an area which includes the
boundless plains of Kansas and Colorado.
The rains of the year 1887 give the
gratifying assurance that the rainbelt is
no longer confined to particular portion
of Kansas. In fact, the rainbelt is no
longer question in the minds of the peo-
pie So far as Kansas is concerned the
rainbelt covers its entire area, and the
word rainbelt has become obsolete and is
expunged from the vocabulary of Kansas
The rainbelt girts the cspacious body
of the no longer doubtful Kansas-whose
climatic conditions were once as tickle as
the blushing maiden in her tcens-Kan-
sas is growing old, and in her age she en-
bodys all the elements that 60 to make
stability and wealth and character. No
longer doubtful child under the capri
ces of youth, but gallant old hero who
has fought many battles, and now yields
the fruits of his victories to those who
come to enjoy his well earned laurels.
And the rainbelt encircles all of West
ern Kansas.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02
LITTLE DAILIES.

Within the last few weeks we have re-
ceived a number of new daily papers.
bright little fellows who are deserving of
long life and prosperity; but as such is
out of the question, when all the sur
roundings are soberly considered, it
seems strange that experienced newspa-
per men should blindly enter into the lit
tie daily business. Winfield now has
three dailies, Wellington five. Kingman
two, while Hutchinson has two or three
and Newton about the same number.
There is only one daily in each of the
two last mentioned towns who receives
the Associated Press dispatches. Cald-
well has little weakly daily that should
appear weekly, and Burlington has q
couple that, geographically speaking.
are little daisies. What means this craze
for little dailiesf They do the town no
good, because the patronage demands
that the papers be small and that they
contain nothing but little home news
and some plate matter. They do not
make the proprietor any money, and
when the worry and work are taken into
consideration, they are losing invest
ments. 1t is senseless craze, and the
graves of little dailies that will mark the
shores in the next year We hope will act
as monuments to guide newspaper men
of the future from the daily rock
Medicine Lodge Cresset.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

Though the Morton county farmer is
free from the insects that destroy crops
he has most active enemy in the ground
squirrels that abound there. Commits
sioner Pack had to replant 40 acres that
had been taken by them, and many other
farmers have had like experience on a
smaller scale. The squirrels find almost
every hill where the corn was put in with
a planter. 1t is now proposed by far
mers that an effort to get rid OF these
pests be made Immediately by all who
are troubled with them. Mr.. Pack soak
ed corn in water poisoned in strychnine
and scattered it over his farm. Next
day he found 90 dead squirrels. Others
are employing the same remedy with tel
ling effect. Every farmer who is plagued
should apply it, as in this way the squir-
rel would soon disappear.-Richflel
Republican.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02
KANSAS AND COLORADO
COMPARED,
Kansas Farmer.

The director of the mint at Philadelph.
ia last week sent out an abstract of his
report for the calender year 1885, from
which it appears that Colorado holds the
first rank among the states producing the
precious metals. California ranks third
now, Montana holding the second. The
output of the Colorado mines for the year
1885 is stated at something over go. 900,
600, gold and silver. The total produc-
ton of the whole country for the same
time was $86, 600, 900, of which Isl 900,
600 was silver. and s35, 600, 900 gold. That
gives to Colorado little less than Is per
cent. the entire yield.
Kansas, in 1886. produced 139, $50, 1872
bushels of COIN, and its value was S37,
966, 0S1, an amount nearly twice rs large
as the total value of all the mines of
Colorado, the richest mining state in the
Union. In the same year, Kansas pro-
duced $55, 200, 900 worth of cattle, her
hogs were worth s11, 795, 900, her horses
$51, 200, 900.
Take the last two years, '86 and IS.
and Kansas raised corn worth SIC, 1874,
258, the value of her animals slaughter
ed and sold for slaughter was $50, 491, 225,
her prairie hay was worth s19, 73S, 734,
the value of the increase in her live
stock was s16, 4S7, 373, her oats crop was
worth s15, AIS, 9O7, her wheat crop (Which
was less than one-half the average of a
dozen years. was worth 81, 312, AS, and
her tame hay was worth s11, 400, 40.
We have often said that farm is bet
ter than q mine-worth more. The lead
ing crop of Kansas-corn, is worth twice
as much as the leading crop as Colorado
gold and silver. There is no investment
as good as that of farm, and there is no
better place to make the investment than
in Kansas.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02
EARLY USE OF NATURALGAS.

The recent discovery Of natural gas,
and the practical uses to which it is be-
ing put in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and
Kentucky, are awakening keen interest
In scientific circles here, and the reports
from those competent to report upon
the subject are looked for with a great
deal OF interest. The subject is now
being carefully studied by experts, and
before many months the Geological
Survey expects to have some new and
valuable information upon the subject.
What will be the extent, duration and
practical value of the gas producing
field is subject of great interest.
And it may as we'll be admitted, it is
subject about which the biologists and
scientific people generally know very
little as yet. Where it comes from,
where and how it was formed, whether
its production is yet going down in
natures great labratory, how long it is
going to last, under what parts of the
country and the surface of the earth
generally it is found, all are subjects
of great uncertainty and grave concern.
tits curious fact, too, that in the very
sections and cities where natural gas is
to-day so abundant and creating so much
excitement its existence has been known
for many years and been utilized in a
quiet way for decade, or quarter of a
century, or even longer. In Findley,
Ohio, natural gas has been known to
exist ever since its settlement, and was
met with in digging wells and cellars,
and found in springs and rock crevices.
In 1898, almost full half century ago,
it was utilized in small way for light
ing residence or two in the village,
and has been utilized ever since. In
1921 we'll was sunk to the depth of
twenty-seven feet, for the purpose of
gathering some of this escaping gas,
and it was utilized with iron pipes with
small holes at the side for its escape.
Probably the first reported discovery of
natural gas was in the Kanawha valley,
where it is just now, century latter,
being rcdiscovered. The earliest ex-
plorers of the Kanawha valley found
"marsh gas" the modern natural gas,
issuing from springs, and it is related
that Washington in locating land deed
ed to him for military services found a
burning spring." he proposed to deed
for public uses, but which, through
some informally, was never completed.
In Illinois. where the gas excitement
has blazed up so vigorously Of late,
there has been gas wells for over thirty
years the first having been utilized as
early as 1055.-Ex.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM
SIGHTED.

LEXINGTON, Ky, May 25-A report
reaches here tonight from Hartford. KY,
that Prof. Klein, the astronomer, sighted
the temperance of the Star of Bethle.
hem Monday night. 1t is quite brilliant,
| and b now in the northwestern heavens.
The heavenly visitor makes its appear
ance about every 800 years, and astrono-
mers everywhere have been looking fol-
| it for some time.
HISTORY OF THE STAR.
On the evening of the 18th of Novem
Der, 1872, the celebrated Danish astrono-
mer, Tycho Brahe. returning home from
his labratory. CHANGED to cast his eyes
heavenword to the starry vault and was
astonished to observe a star near the ze-
NTH in CassiOpeia, of a magnitude never
before seen. This new star was without
tail. was not surrounded by nebulous
light and was perfectly like all other
fixed stars, with the exception that it
scintillated more strongly than stars of
the first magnitude. When first discov-
cred, its brightness was greater than that
of Vega, Sirius or Jupiter, and was COM
parably only to that of Venus when she
shines with her greatest splendor. Its
brilliancy was, in fact, SO great that those
gifted with keen eyesight could perceive
it in the daytime, and even at noon. In
the following December it had diminished
so much in luster that it resembled Jupi-
ter. By February, 1873, it had become
reduced in brilliancy to an ordinary star
of the first magnitude. By the following
November, one year after its first appear
ance, it was only of the fourth magni-
tude, and its light continued to fade until
in March. 1854, after having been visible
for seventeen months, it was no longer
discernible to the naked eye. This was
thirty seven years before the invention of
the telescope.) In the year 945 and again
in 1854 brilliant star is recorded to have
made it's appearance suddenly between
the consultations of Cepheus and Cas-
siopeia, near the place where the new
star appeared in 1872. These three phe-
nomena were not unnaturally connected
together even by Tycho Brahe and his
contemporaries, and were regarded as re-
appearances of the star. 1t was, further
more, surmised that this star was no other
than the star of the Magi. and this 0ueS-
ton was warmly discussed while the star
was yet shining. 1t is, possibly, belief
in this identity which led to the assign
ment to the star of period of 315 years.
The actual intervals are 319 and 3OS
years which gives mean period of 1874
years. But if reconed back from 1872 by
periods of 315 years brings it to the B.
c., which is nearly identical, according to
revised chronology, with the year of
Christ.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02
A KANSAS GEM.

One of the most beautiful things ever
said about Kansas was written by Senator
John J. Ingalls, fifteen years ago, when
it was neither so popular nor so easy to
eulogize the State as it is now. All
the magnificent progress and prospesity
of later years have not inspired the
production of it's equal. The paragraph
has recently been brought out and
started on the rounds Of the press it a
mutilated and imperfect form. 1t is
hereby given correctly, as copied in
note book by one of the editors of the
Herald upon the first reading of the
original in the first number of the Kan
sas Magazine issued, January, 1872.
The pronoun in the first sentence
refers to Albert D. Richardson, author
of Beyond the Mississippi, who came
to Kansas in June, 1857, to stay few
months, but remained ten years. He
was afterwards shot and killed in New
York, November 18th, 1869. While
in Kansas Richardson was an intimate
friend of Mr.. Ingalls,, and he was made
the subject of an able article by the
latter, in which occurs this grateful
tribute to Kansas:
Kansas exercised the same fascina-
ton over him that she does over all
who have ever yielded to her spell.
There are some women whom to have
once loved renders it impossible ever to
love again. As the ''gray and melan-
choly main" to the sailor, the desert to
the Beduoin, the Alps to the noun
taineer, so is Kansas to all her child
rem. No one ever felt any enthusiasm
about Wisconsin, or Indiana, or Mich
igan. The idea is preposterous. 1t is
impossible. They are great prosperous
communities, but their inhabitants can
remove and never desire to return.
They hunger for the horizon. They
make new homes without the maladie
du pays. But no genuine Kansan can
emigrate. He may wander. He may
roam. He may travel. He may go
elsewhere, but no other State can ever
claim him as citizen. Once natural
lied the allegiance can never be for
sworn.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02
WHAT TREES CAN DO.

The Sentinel is proud of Garden City,
and it has reason to enjoy the pleasure.
1t says:
The fine thrifty trees that line the
streets of this city, giving it such beau
tiful and attractive appearance, causes
almost as many of our eastern visitors to
fall in love with Garden as the massive
structures now building, and the citizens
should take pride in preserving and as
sisting the growth of these most beauti-
full of ornaments that any city can have.
1t was only yesterday that a gentleman
from the east remarked to US that what
makes Garden the pride of the west is
the beauty of her streets together with
the fine business blocks.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02
PROF. SNOW ON WESTERN
KANSAS.


Prof. Frank H. Snow, of the State Uni
versity of Lawrence. is the very best au
thority in regard to the geological make
up of these western Kansas plains. and
confirms the views often expressed in &C
counting for the peculiarities of our soil
He tells Mr.. 8. g. Hand who sent him q
petrified fish taken from the stone quar-
ries near Kendall, that when that fish
lived and died the whole of Hamilton
county, now 5000 feet above sea level,
was under the salt water ocean. In
fact" he says, the ocean once covered
the western portion of the United States.
The Rocky mountains were not yet up.
heaved when your fish lived and died.
1t must have been five million of years
ago." Now this confirms the view We
have been taking of the formation of our
wonderful soil, which shows for itself
that it was formed of q slow deposit OF
matter on the sea bottom long years ago
and that accounts for the rich material
found in 1t by the analysis, made at the
laboratory of the State Unworthy last
fall and published in the fifth biennial re-
port of the State Board of Agriculture.
That analysis shows that our subsoil con-
tains A per cent of lime. three fourths of
one per cent Of soda, besides sundry other
ingredients favorable to vegetable
growth. It also accounts for the exceed
ing fineness of texture of our soil. its per-
feet communion, trituratiOn, or pulver-
ization. More than twenty years ago
Prof. G. C. Swallow, then State Geolo-
gist of Kansas, as he had previously been
of Missouri, informed the writer that he
considered the soil of Kansas the best in
the world so far as he had seen, or heard,
or read, for the reason that the subsOil
here was as good as, or better than the
top soil, so that if the time should ever
come when the surface or top soil should
be worn out and exhausted, the owner
would only need to get subsoil pillow
and 60 deep enough to bring up the rich
sub-soil to the surface when he would
find his old farm as good as new if not
better.
Prof. Snow knows all about Western
Kansas having spent his summer vaca-
ton for many years in hunting all over
the plains particularly along the Smoky
Hill valley for the fossil remains of for
mer ages, where he found the remains of
croccodiles, sharks and great monsters
which now enrich the cabinets of the
University, and for the better storage and
display of which the state erected hand
some building on Mount Dread, which is
named Snow Hill in well merited com
memoration of Prof. Shows services in
the cause of natural science during the
twenty years he has been q member of
the faculty. Kansas is new state but it
has taken millions of years to form its
wonderful soil which may now be had
for almost nothing by the men who have
the pluck, patience and perseverance to
subdue and cultivate it.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02
Kinsley has a minister who hold serv

Kinsley has minister who hold servi-
ces upon the street every Sunday morn
ing, conducted in the usual indoor man.
ner. His audience, however, consists of
travelling men, and others who seldom
visit any church, and yet they pay strict
attention to his preaching, singing and
praying. Although this may appear
novel way in this day and age and in
country in which are planted many
houses of worship, yet it is a privilege
extended to all, and this man is certainly
commended for his displayed zeal in the
cause.-Graphic.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

The example set by the Chicago strik-
ers is worthy of emulation elsewhere.
Upon the establishment of the builders
lockout. the men who believed they could
not afford to work at the wages offered
sought and found employment in other
lines of work. This action is based on
hard horse sense, and should be remem.
bered to the credit of the strikers.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

We are told that Mr.. Clevcland's
friends are opposed to the nomination of
Mr. Thurman for governor of Ohio be-
cause they are afraid of the old Roman.
If they are afraid of him it is because the
old man is the greatest democrat in the
country, and the contrast between the
governor and the president would be un-
pleasant.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

With protection planting itself in every
section of the country by diversified in
dustries, it is time to stop the free trade
babble. 1t is no more in accord with the
genius of our institutions than is the an
archy of Herr Most, and both strike at
every vital energy of people whose
whole wealth and grandeur are in their
industries.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

The street paving mania has broken
out in number of towns in the eastern
part of the state, and jobs put up on the
owners of property by paving rings.
Street improvements the TINES holds are
wise in any city, but corrupt-rings should
be denounced and put down at whatever
cost A city may be SO rich that like
New York under Tweed it may take years
to find out that the tax payers are being
robbed but when the people do make the
discovery fearful retribution awaits the
scoundrels who put their hand into the
public treasury. This has been tried so
often and so many families have been
wrecked by it that it does seem that men
should hesitate a long time before perpe-
'trating fraud of this character.
1t is to be hoped that the big cities Of
Kansas will not foster organizations
which depend for dividends on the
amount of money they can steal from the
Municipal treasury.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

The trustees of the Butchers conven-
ton at Chicago, ask that the provisions
authorizing walking delegate be recind-
ed, and that no mileage and per diem be
allowed. 1t looks as though the walk
ing delegate" is destined to be relegated
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

Colonel W. o. Bradley, the republican
candidate for governor of Kentuck. says
that if the party can add about 10000
votes to the Blaine vote of 10000 they
will carry the state at the August cleo
ton. The colonel is diligently stumping
the state against Bolivar, Betsy and the
Rahyr'
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

Judge Robertson, ex-collectOr of the
port of New York, when at Albany the
other day, said the republican party of
that state was getting in splendid condi-
ton for the next presidential contest, and
that everybody seems to be for Blaine If
he could win.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

One of the substitutes for liquor in
Maine is called hayseed beer. 1t is brew
ed from hops molasses, and yeast cake.
For use in families not well supplied with
good dish water or for persons unable to
afford soda-pop this hayseod beer will
come very handy.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

Mark Twain says the stingiestpeo in
the world live in Florida. There is a
man down there, says the gay and fes-
tive Mark, who is SO stingy that he uses
a wart on the back of his neck as collar
button.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

The thinking farmers of the west have
long since been convinced of the fact that
no farmer can obtain the best results by
raising and disposing of single crop
each year. 1t is generally conceded by
the most successful farmers that the only
guarantee to reasonable profits. except
in the first few years of the cultivation Of
q vergin soil, lines in judicious combi-
nation of growing grasses, grain and live
stock.-Rural World.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

A physician in Idaho thought he was
administering ipecac to patient, but it
proved TO be strychnine and the patient
died. He should be admitted to member
ship in the Didn't know-it-was-loaded So
cietY.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

Clarke, union veteran residing in
New York, was signal boy on Admiral
Farragut's flagship at Mobile. A shell
from the rebel guns rolled up behind the
Admiral, and the boy seeing the danger,
promptly rolled it overheard, when it ex-
ploded in the water. He is now so poor
that the Farragut medal voted him by con-
gress for his bravery has been pledged
for small loan.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

The Topeka Capital contains para
graph several days ago copied from the
Salina Journal, to the effect that Hon. j.
NJ. Simpson, one of the members of the
Legislature from Mcpherson county, would
soon remove to Pratt Center. We are
glad to state that such is not the case
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

A Southern paper reports that "a sheep
raiser in Runnels county, Texas has a
beard five feet four inches long and
twenty-one inches wide in its broadest
part. 1t is of rich chestnut color"
The last statement looks like an attempt
to pull the wool over an old Joke.
Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1887-06-02

Whatever else may be said of Cover
nor Taylor, of Tennessee, he is good
Democrat. He announces that there is not
single Republican in state office in
Tennessee. Andrew jackson lived in
that state